# NASCAR Rookie of the Year

The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year.

## History of the Award

The Rookie of the Year award for NASCAR's premier series was first presented to a driver named Blackie Pitt by Houston Lawing, NASCAR's Public Relations director, in 1954. An official award started with the 1958 season.
From the 1958 through the 1973 seasons, NASCAR did not have an official points system to determine the Rookie of the Year, so NASCAR's officials merely gathered together to select a winner. As of 2018, the rookie of the year points are the same as the championship points.
The award is currently sponsored by Sunoco. Drivers competing for the award must display the Sunoco contingency decal.

### Eligibility

Eligibility for Rookie of the Year has changed several times over the history of NASCAR. As of 2021, a driver must be competing for driver championship points in the series and that the driver must not have competed in more than seven events in any prior season in that series. A driver can also only compete for the Rookie of the Year honors once per series. However, these rules are not officially written in the NASCAR rulebook and NASCAR makes the final decision on eligibility.

## Cup Series
### 2025 ROTY contenders

* Shane van Gisbergen
* Riley Herbst

### History

Below is a list of all winners, and known runners-up. (Note: some of the drivers listed here are not confirmed as ROTY contenders, and competed in more than the maximum number of races to be eligible for ROTY honors.)
* * indicates ROTY who later became the Series Champion
| * | Declared for ROTY, but did not make minimum seven (five before 2001) races, thus could be eligible in a later year. |
| ± | Marked drivers during Daytona 500 practice or qualifying events were killed during their rookie seasons and were unable to complete the schedule. |
| Ø | Moroso died after race 25 of 29 during his rookie season in a vehicular incident where he and his girlfriend were driving home from the September North Wilkesboro round, receiving the award posthumously. Toxicology reports noted Moroso had a BAC more than twice the legal limit (was .22 BAC), leading to a NASCAR rule change later that states a driver must finish the season in good standing. Under modern rules, a driver who is found to be under current indictment of a crime (including DUI/DWI) would be ineligible for the award, in addition to facing an indefinite suspension from the sport. |
| ♦ | Hylton finished second in the overall 1966 championship, the highest ever finish for an eligible rookie. |
| æ | Pitt did not receive an official award. |
| § | Dick Hutcherson won nine times and finished second in the championship standings in 1965, but was not considered to be eligible due to being a champion in the IMCA. |
| Year | Winner | Runner(s) Up |
| 2024 | Carson Hocevar | Josh Berry, Zane Smith, Kaz Grala |
| 2023 | Ty Gibbs | Noah Gragson |
| 2022 | Austin Cindric | Harrison Burton, Todd Gilliland |
| 2021 | Chase Briscoe | Anthony Alfredo |
| 2020 | Cole Custer | Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, John Hunter Nemechek, Brennan Poole, Quin Houff |
| 2019 | Daniel Hemric | Ryan Preece, Matt Tifft |
| 2018 | William Byron | Bubba Wallace |
| 2017 | Erik Jones | Daniel Suárez, Ty Dillon, Corey LaJoie, Gray Gaulding |
| 2016 | Chase Elliott* | Chris Buescher, Ryan Blaney, Brian Scott, Jeffrey Earnhardt |
| 2015 | Brett Moffitt | Matt DiBenedetto, Jeb Burton, Alex Kennedy, Tanner Berryhill* |
| 2014 | Kyle Larson* | Austin Dillon, Justin Allgaier, Cole Whitt, Michael Annett, Alex Bowman, Ryan Truex, Parker Kligerman |
| 2013 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Danica Patrick, Timmy Hill |
| 2012 | Stephen Leicht | Josh Wise, Timmy Hill* |
| 2011 | Andy Lally | T. J. Bell*, Brian Keselowski* |
| 2010 | Kevin Conway | Terry Cook* |
| 2009 | Joey Logano* | Scott Speed, Max Papis, Dexter Bean* |
| 2008 | Regan Smith | Sam Hornish Jr., Patrick Carpentier, Michael McDowell, Dario Franchitti, Jacques Villeneuve* |
| 2007 | Juan Pablo Montoya | David Ragan, Paul Menard, David Reutimann, A. J. Allmendinger, Brandon Whitt* |
| 2006 | Denny Hamlin | Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr., Reed Sorenson, J. J. Yeley, David Stremme, Brent Sherman* |
| 2005 | Kyle Busch* | Travis Kvapil, Mike Garvey, Stanton Barrett |
| 2004 | Kasey Kahne | Brendan Gaughan, Brian Vickers, Scott Wimmer, Scott Riggs, Johnny Sauter, Carl Edwards |
| 2003 | Jamie McMurray | Greg Biffle, Tony Raines, Casey Mears, Jack Sprague, Larry Foyt |
| 2002 | Ryan Newman | Jimmie Johnson, Shawna Robinson*, Carl Long* |
| 2001 | Kevin Harvick* | Kurt Busch, Casey Atwood, Jason Leffler, Ron Hornaday Jr., Andy Houston |
| 2000 | Matt Kenseth* | Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dave Blaney, Scott Pruett, Stacy Compton, Mike Bliss, Ed Berrier, Jeff Fuller* |
| 1999 | Tony Stewart* | Elliott Sadler, Buckshot Jones, Stanton Barrett*, Dan Pardus*, Mike Harmon* |
| 1998 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Kevin Lepage, Jerry Nadeau, Steve Park |
| 1997 | Mike Skinner | David Green, Jeff Green, Robby Gordon |
| 1996 | Johnny Benson Jr. | Randy MacDonald*, Stacy Compton* |
| 1995 | Ricky Craven | Robert Pressley, Randy LaJoie, Davy Jones, Steve Kinser*, Mike Chase*, Gary Bradberry*, Terry Byers* |
| 1994 | Jeff Burton | Steve Grissom, Joe Nemechek, John Andretti, Mike Wallace, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Loy Allen Jr., Billy Standridge, Curtis Markham*, Rick Carelli*, T. W. Taylor* |
| 1993 | Jeff Gordon* | Bobby Labonte, Kenny Wallace, P. J. Jones |
| 1992 | Jimmy Hensley | Andy Belmont, Dave Mader III* |
| 1991 | Bobby Hamilton | Ted Musgrave, Stanley Smith, Wally Dallenbach Jr., Jeff Purvis, Sammy Swindell*, Rich Bickle*, Dave Mader III*, Dorsey Schroeder* |
| 1990 | Rob Moroso Ø | Jack Pennington, Jerry O'Neil, Jeff Purvis* |
| 1989 | Dick Trickle | Hut Stricklin, Larry Pearson, Jimmy Spencer, Rick Mast, Ben Hess, Chad Little, Butch Miller, Mickey Gibbs |
| 1988 | Ken Bouchard | Ernie Irvan, Brad Noffsinger, Jimmy Horton |
| 1987 | Davey Allison | Dale Jarrett, Steve Christman, Rodney Combs, Derrike Cope, Jerry Cranmer* |
| 1986 | Alan Kulwicki* | Michael Waltrip, Chet Fillip, Davey Allison*, Jerry Cranmer*, Rick Baldwin*, Jonathan Lee Edwards*, Wayne Kramer* |
| 1985 | Ken Schrader | Eddie Bierschwale, Don Hume |
| 1984 | Rusty Wallace* | Greg Sacks, Phil Parsons, Clark Dwyer |
| 1983 | Sterling Marlin | Trevor Boys, Ronnie Hopkins, Ken Ragan, Bobby Hillin Jr. |
| 1982 | Geoff Bodine | Mark Martin, Brad Teague |
| 1981 | Ron Bouchard | Morgan Shepherd, Tim Richmond, Mike Alexander, Elliott Forbes-Robinson, Joe Ruttman, Stan Barrett, Connie Saylor, Gary Balough |
| 1980 | Jody Ridley | Lake Speed, Kyle Petty, Slick Johnson |
| 1979 | Dale Earnhardt* | Joe Millikan, Terry Labonte, Harry Gant |
| 1978 | Ronnie Thomas | Roger Hamby, Blackie Wangerin, Baxter Price, Al Holbert |
| 1977 | Ricky Rudd | Sam Sommers, Janet Guthrie, Tighe Scott, Tommy Gale, Gary Myers |
| 1976 | Skip Manning | Terry Bivins, Neil Bonnett, Jimmy Means, Bill Elliott, John A. Utsman, Johnny Ray |
| 1975 | Bruce Hill | Carl Adams, Bruce Jacobi, Grant Adcox, Chuck Bown, Joe Mihalic, Travis Tiller, Ferrel Harris, Dick May |
| 1974 | Earl Ross | Richie Panch, Jackie Rogers, Ramo Stott |
| 1973 | Lennie Pond | Darrell Waltrip, Johnny Barnes |
| 1972 | Larry Smith | David Sisco, Doc Faustina |
| 1971 | Walter Ballard | Maynard Troyer, Richard Brown, D. K. Ulrich |
| 1970 | Bill Dennis | Joe Frasson, Jim Vandiver, Talmadge Prince± |
| 1969 | Dick Brooks | Buddy Young, Hoss Ellington |
| 1968 | Pete Hamilton | Dave Marcis, Don Tarr |
| 1967 | Donnie Allison | Charlie Glotzbach, Paul Dean Holt |
| 1966 | James Hylton♦ | Bill Seifert, Frank Warren |
| 1965§ | Sam McQuagg | Henley Gray, Clyde Lynn |
| 1964 | Doug Cooper | J. T. Putney, Buddy Arrington |
| 1963 | Billy Wade | Bobby Isaac, Larry Manning, J. D. McDuffie |
| 1962 | Thomas Cox | Cale Yarborough, Ed Livingston |
| 1961 | Woodie Wilson | Wendell Scott, Lee Reitzel |
| 1960 | David Pearson* | Gerald Duke, Paul Lewis |
| 1959 | Richard Petty* | Fritz Wilson, Buddy Baker, Bob Burdick |
| 1958 | Shorty Rollins | |
| 1957 | Ken Rush | |
| 1956 | not awarded | |
| 1955 | not awarded | |
| 1954 | Blackie Pitt æ | |

## Xfinity Series
### 2025 ROTY Contenders

* Daniel Dye
* Christian Eckes
* Taylor Gray
* Carson Kvapil
* Nick Sanchez
* William Sawalich
* Dean Thompson
* Kris Wright
* Connor Zilisch

### History

* * indicates ROTY who later became the Series Champion
| Year | Winner | Runner(s) Up |
| 2024 | Jesse Love | Shane van Gisbergen, Leland Honeyman, Hailie Deegan, Dawson Cram |
| 2023 | Sammy Smith | Parker Retzlaff, Chandler Smith |
| 2022 | Austin Hill | Sheldon Creed, Jesse Iwuji |
| 2021 | Ty Gibbs* | Josh Berry, Sam Mayer, Ryan Vargas |
| 2020 | Harrison Burton | Riley Herbst, Jesse Little, Joe Graf Jr., Kody Vanderwal |
| 2019 | Chase Briscoe | Noah Gragson, Justin Haley, Brandon Brown, John Hunter Nemechek |
| 2018 | Tyler Reddick* | Christopher Bell, Austin Cindric, Alex Labbe, Kaz Grala, Spencer Boyd, Vinnie Miller, Chad Finchum, Josh Bilicki, Matt Mills |
| 2017 | William Byron* | Cole Custer, Daniel Hemric, Matt Tifft, Spencer Gallagher, Ben Kennedy |
| 2016 | Erik Jones | Brennan Poole, Brandon Jones, Ryan Preece, Garrett Smithley, Ray Black Jr., B. J. McLeod, Cody Ware* |
| 2015 | Daniel Suárez* | Bubba Wallace, Ross Chastain, Cale Conley, Harrison Rhodes, Peyton Sellers, Josh Reaume |
| 2014 | Chase Elliott* | Ty Dillon, Chris Buescher, Ryan Reed, Dylan Kwasniewski, Dakoda Armstrong, Ryan Sieg, Tanner Berryhill, Chad Boat, Tommy Joe Martins, Harrison Rhodes* |
| 2013 | Kyle Larson | Alex Bowman, Nelson Piquet Jr., Jeffrey Earnhardt, Kevin Swindell, Dexter Stacey, Hal Martin, Juan Carlos Blum |
| 2012 | Austin Dillon* | Cole Whitt, Jason Bowles, Brad Sweet, Johanna Long, Joey Gase, Casey Roderick, Benny Gordon |
| 2011 | Timmy Hill | Blake Koch, Ryan Truex, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Charles Lewandoski |
| 2010 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr.* | Brian Scott, Colin Braun, James Buescher, Parker Kligerman |
| 2009 | Justin Allgaier* | Brendan Gaughan, Michael Annett, Michael McDowell, Erik Darnell, Scott Lagasse Jr., John Wes Townley, Ken Butler III, Terry Cook, Peyton Sellers, Marc Davis* |
| 2008 | Landon Cassill | Bryan Clauson, Dario Franchitti, Cale Gale, Brian Keselowski, Chase Miller, Patrick Carpentier |
| 2007 | David Ragan | Marcos Ambrose, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Krisiloff, Brad Coleman, Juan Pablo Montoya, Robert Richardson Jr., Sam Hornish Jr., Justin Diercks*, Timothy Peters*, Bobby Santos III*, Alex García*, Brian Conz* |
| 2006 | Danny O'Quinn Jr. | John Andretti, Todd Kluever, Burney Lamar, Mark McFarland, Stephen Leicht, David Gilliland, Tracy Hines, Joel Kauffman, A. J. Foyt IV*, Jorge Goeters*, Kevin Conway*, Chris Wimmer* |
| 2005 | Carl Edwards* | Reed Sorenson, Denny Hamlin, Jon Wood, Brent Sherman, Kertus Davis, Michel Jourdain Jr., Tyler Walker, Ryan Hemphill, Brandon Miller, Paul Wolfe, Boston Reid*, A. J. Fike*, Blake Feese*, Kim Crosby*, Donnie Neuenberger* |
| 2004 | Kyle Busch* | Clint Bowyer, Paul Menard, J. J. Yeley, Billy Parker, Stan Boyd, Travis Geisler, Donnie Neuenberger*, Rick Markle*, Kevin Conway*, Brian Conz* |
| 2003 | David Stremme | Coy Gibbs, Joey Clanton, Chad Blount, Jason White, Chase Montgomery, Regan Smith, Damon Lusk, Chris Bingham |
| 2002 | Scott Riggs | Johnny Sauter, Shane Hmiel, Kerry Earnhardt, Casey Mears, Brian Vickers, Kasey Kahne, Dan Pardus |
| 2001 | Greg Biffle* | Scott Wimmer, Jamie McMurray, Larry Foyt, Tim Sauter, Marty Houston, David Donohue |
| 2000 | Kevin Harvick* | Ron Hornaday Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Jay Sauter, Michael Ritch*, P. J. Jones, Anthony Lazzaro, Mike Stefanik, Mike Borkowski, Derrick Gilchrist, Kelly Denton*, Jay Fogleman*, Dave Steele* |
| 1999 | Tony Raines | Hank Parker Jr., Adam Petty, Bobby Hamilton Jr., Tony Roper, Andy Kirby, Jimmy Kitchens, Ted Christopher*, Kelly Denton* Phillip Morris*, Kerry Earnhardt*, Skip Smith* |
| 1998 | Andy Santerre | Dave Blaney, Blaise Alexander, Kevin Grubb, Wayne Grubb, Casey Atwood, Mike Cope, Matt Hutter, Lance Hooper, Jason Jarrett, Kevin Schwantz, Brad Loney, Hank Parker Jr.*, Mike Stefanik* |
| 1997 | Steve Park | Matt Kenseth, Johnny Chapman, Mark Krogh, Jeff Krogh, Lyndon Amick, Chris Diamond, Jimmy Foster, Jeff McClure, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tim Bender, Doug Reid III, Stanton Barrett, Tim Steele, David Hutto* |
| 1996 | Glenn Allen Jr. | Mike Dillon, Shane Hall, Mark Green, Tony Stewart, Mike Harmon, Jerry Nadeau*, Johnny Chapman*, Tim Bender*, Pete Orr*, Andy Hillenburg*, Jimmy Kitchens*, Greg Clark*, Mike Laughlin Jr.* |
| 1995 | Jeff Fuller | Curtis Markham, Kirk Shelmerdine, L.W. Miller, David Bonnett, Greg Clark*, John Tanner*, Tim Bender*, Dale Williams* |
| 1994 | Johnny Benson Jr.* | Dennis Setzer, Kevin Lepage, Stevie Reeves, Randy Porter, Dirk Stephens, Johnny Rumley, Mike Garvey, Robbie Reiser, Chad Chaffin, Michael Ritch*, Kirk Shelmerdine*, Mike Stefanik*, George Crenshaw*, Jeff Neal*, Andy Hillenburg* |
| 1993 | Hermie Sadler | Joe Bessey, Tim Fedewa, Roy Payne, Nathan Buttke, Jason Keller, Michael Ritch*, Tom Hessert*, Alan Russell*, Ken Wallace*, Page Jones* |
| 1992 | Ricky Craven | Shawna Robinson, Robert Huffman*, Randy MacDonald*, Greg Trammell* |
| 1991 | Jeff Gordon | David Green, Tracy Leslie, Troy Beebe, Cecil Eunice, Richard Lasater, Jeff Green, Mike Wallace, Mike Oliver, Mike McLaughlin, Rich Burgess*, Shawna Robinson* |
| 1990 | Joe Nemechek* | Bobby Moon, Ward Burton, Jack Sprague, Dana Patten, Davey Johnson, Dave Mader III, Ed Ferree, Frank Fleming, Clifford Allison* |
| 1989 | Kenny Wallace | Bobby Hamilton, Jeff Burton, Dave Rezendes, Robert Pressley, Brandon Baker, Dave Simpson, Ed Ferree*, Tom Harrington* |
* ↑ Craven started seven races in 1991 (the limit was five) but was charged with only two starts. The other five starts were in combination races with the Busch North Series, where he raced as a regular. Both 1991 Busch Series wins were in combination races as a North driver.

## Craftsman Truck Series
### 2025 ROTY Contenders

* Toni Breidinger
* Connor Mosack
* Frankie Muniz
* Andrés Pérez de Lara
* Gio Ruggiero
* Dawson Sutton

### History

* * indicates ROTY who later became the Series Champion
| Year | Winner | Runner(s) Up |
| 2024 | Layne Riggs | Conner Jones, Thad Moffitt |
| 2023 | Nick Sanchez | Jake Garcia, Rajah Caruth, Bret Holmes, Daniel Dye |
| 2022 | Corey Heim | Lawless Alan, Dean Thompson, Jack Wood, Blaine Perkins |
| 2021 | Chandler Smith | Carson Hocevar, Hailie Deegan, Chase Purdy, Kris Wright |
| 2020 | Zane Smith* | Christian Eckes, Derek Kraus, Raphaël Lessard, Tanner Gray, Tate Fogleman, Ty Majeski, Spencer Davis |
| 2019 | Tyler Ankrum | Sheldon Creed, Harrison Burton, Tyler Dippel, Gus Dean, Spencer Boyd, Brennan Poole, Natalie Decker, Anthony Alfredo |
| 2018 | Myatt Snider | Todd Gilliland, Dalton Sargeant, Justin Fontaine, Bo LeMastus, Robby Lyons |
| 2017 | Chase Briscoe | Austin Cindric, Grant Enfinger, Noah Gragson, Kaz Grala, Justin Haley, Cody Coughlin, Stewart Friesen, Wendell Chavous |
| 2016 | William Byron | Christopher Bell, Cole Custer, Ben Rhodes, Rico Abreu, Austin Wayne Self, Matt Tifft |
| 2015 | Erik Jones* | John Hunter Nemechek, Cameron Hayley, Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, Spencer Gallagher, Ray Black Jr., Korbin Forrister, Austin Theriault, Justin Boston |
| 2014 | Ben Kennedy | Tyler Reddick, Mason Mingus, Tyler Young, Jimmy Weller III |
| 2013 | Ryan Blaney | Darrell Wallace Jr., Jeb Burton, Germán Quiroga, Brennan Newberry |
| 2012 | Ty Dillon | Cale Gale, Ross Chastain, John Wes Townley, Dakoda Armstrong, Bryan Silas, Max Gresham, Paulie Harraka |
| 2011 | Joey Coulter | Nelson Piquet Jr., Cole Whitt, Parker Kligerman, Miguel Paludo, Johanna Long, Craig Goess |
| 2010 | Austin Dillon* | Justin Lofton, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Brett Butler |
| 2009 | Johnny Sauter* | Tayler Malsam, James Buescher, Ricky Carmichael, J. R. Fitzpatrick, Brian Ickler, Brent Raymer, Chris Jones |
| 2008 | Colin Braun | Brian Scott, Scott Speed, Donny Lia, Justin Marks, Marc Mitchell, Andy Lally |
| 2007 | Willie Allen | Tim Sauter, Joey Clanton, Jason White, Blake Bjorklund, Aaron Fike |
| 2006 | Erik Darnell | Chad McCumbee, Marcos Ambrose, Aric Almirola, Bobby East, Kerry Earnhardt, Erin Crocker, Boston Reid, Joey Miller, Robert Richardson Jr., Kraig Kinser, Scott Lagasse Jr., Ryan Moore |
| 2005 | Todd Kluever | Timothy Peters, Shigeaki Hattori, Regan Smith |
| 2004 | David Reutimann | Tracy Hines, Robert Huffman, Brandon Whitt, Chase Montgomery, Shane Sieg, Kelly Sutton, Ken Weaver, Chris Wimmer, Shelby Howard, Brad Keselowski |
| 2003 | Carl Edwards | Jody Lavender, Randy Briggs, T. J. Bell, Tina Gordon, Doug Keller |
| 2002 | Brendan Gaughan | Bill Lester, Jason Small, Dana White |
| 2001 | Travis Kvapil* | Ricky Hendrick, Matt Crafton, Billy Bigley, Jon Wood, Willy T. Ribbs, Brian Rose, Nathan Haseleu, Larry Gunselman, Chuck Hossfeld, Ricky Sanders |
| 2000 | Kurt Busch | Carlos Contreras, Scott Riggs, Jamie McMurray, Rick Ware, Wayne Edwards, Coy Gibbs, Kenny Martin |
| 1999 | Mike Stefanik | Scott Hansen, David Starr, Marty Houston, Tim Steele, Ryan McGlynn, Phil Bonifield |
| 1998 | Greg Biffle* | Andy Houston, Scot Walters, Wayne Anderson, Kevin Cywinski, Dominic Dobson, Rob Morgan, Rick McCray |
| 1997 | Kenny Irwin Jr. | Rick Crawford, Stacy Compton, Tony Raines, Boris Said, Tony Roper, Tammy Jo Kirk, Randy Tolsma, Terry Cook, Rob Rizzo, Lonnie Rush Jr., Kelly Denton, Mike Cope |
| 1996 | Bryan Reffner | Doug George, Lance Norick, Bobby Gill, Jay Sauter, Lonnie Cox, Charlie Cragan, Ron Barfield Jr., Butch Gilliland |